The National Tile Contractor’s Association (NTCA) shows no signs of slowing down as it marks its 65th year in 2012.

The association has nearly doubled its membership in the past decade — to 800 members — by staying in tune with its members’ needs and creating added value.

“We take that very seriously,” said executive director Bart Bettiga. “These people have businesses to run and they are volunteers. We are very clear to the people we sign up for membership that we want them involved. We get them involved with presentations and panel discussions and shows.”

One way they participate is by taking part in educational programs. “Since the association’s start in 1947 as the Southern Tile Contractors Association, our goal has been to provide training and education for the industry; we’re teaching them how to properly install tile and stone,” said Joe Tarver who was the association’s executive director from 1972 to 2002 and still serves as executive director emeritus and manages the NTCA Technical Committee documents.

In 2003, the association purchased a trailer for its training director to perform educational road shows throughout the U.S. Thanks to the support of its associate members, who have sponsored the trailer by purchasing advertising space, the NTCA now has two trainers and two vehicles on the road, performing more than 75 road shows annually and reaching more than 5,000 attendees.
The Partnering For Success Program, launched in 2004, gives NTCA contractor members free vouchers for tile, stone and installation products.

In 2005, the NTCA developed the Five Star Contractor Recognition Program to highlight the companies that exhibit excellence in the trade, and in 2011, the NTCA agreed to jointly promote the NTCA Five Star Program with the Tile Contractors Association of America (TCAA) Trowel Of Excellence Program. The goal of the partnership is to create a pool of certified contractors who will work with tile and installation material manufacturers on national accounts and specialized specifications.

After the two organizations made this announcement, they collaborated on language to be inserted into the specification section of the TCNA Handbook.
“I’m partial to the NTCA because it’s what I do for a living,” said James Woelfel, a second-generation NTCA member, second vice president and Technical Committee chair. “Doing installations right and having them stay in place for an exceptionally long time is a legacy for my company.”

Industry partnerships have helped to raise awareness for the association. The NTCA, along with the Tile Council of North America (TCNA), Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA), Tile of Spain, and Ceramics of Italy, developed a certification program in the United States for installation competency in 2007.

In 2010, the NTCA reached a partnership with the TCNA and the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association to bring all three organizations’ annual meetings under one roof.

NTCA uses the Coverings show, which it co-sponsors with the CTDA, Tile of Spain, Ceramics of Italy and TCNA, and as a focal point for its programs and promotions. The TileLetter Installation Awards, named for the association’s monthly magazine, recognizes both design and the installation as integral parts to a successful project. It was the TileLetter Awards that led the NTCA to develop the Coverings Installation Design Showcase in 2010.

In 2012, the NTCA will amp up its reputation as an information resource for the architect and design community through the launch of a new publication,
Tile for Architects, Designers, and Affiliates (TADA). Its mission is to provide technical content to assist professionals involved in the design and specification of ceramic tile and natural stone
“We are seeing a movement toward specialization within the field of tile installation,” Bettiga explained. “The products that designers are using — such as large-format and very thin tile — require an installer who knows how to do the installation successfully.”